Graham Elementary Schools

Hello Falcon families!

It's the middle of February, and the snow is still falling⛄ Hopefully our learners can get out and enjoy the snow🎿 Reminder...they will have an extra day for fun since, in observance of President's Day, there is no school on Monday, February 17. We look forward to seeing our Falcons back at GES on Tuesday, February 18!

Please read this issue in its entirety for NEW information including...

*grades 3, 4 and 5 Spring Ohio State Test dates released,

*Dancing with Dudes fun!,

*GES Family Falcon Focus,

*Updated Graham Elementary School Allergy Protocol.

*Senate Bill 288 and House Bill 123 informational letter,

*Staff fun at GES

*...and MUCH more!

As our teachers continue to work hard to facilitate powerful learning opportunities for your children at GES, we are thankful for the support and partnerships we are developing with each family we are lucky enough to serve at Graham Elementary! Thank you for trusting us with your children's education and development both as learners and as people!

This school year continues to be filled with learning, achievement, success and LOTS of smiles!

Our Graham Elementary Staff is the best in the land!

Stay informed about all things happening at Graham Elementary by following us on:

Facebook: Graham Elementary School

ClassDOJO

Graham Local Schools website: grahamlocalschools.org. (Graham Elementary School)

Emily Shreve, Graham Elementary School Principal

Aaron Myers, Graham Elementary School Assistant Principal

Thank you to our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for organizing an awesome afternoon of dancing and fun for over 200 of our Falcons and their favorite dudes!

Graham Local Schools is excited to announce a new partnership with Community Health and Wellness Partners to bring a School-Based Health Center (SBHC) to Graham Local Schools. This is an initiative that leadership has been working to bring to the district for the last several years. The center is set to start operation on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

What is the SBHC?

The center, provided at no cost to the district, will offer accessible healthcare services for students and staff. Community Health and Wellness Partners will staff the center with:

• A full-time nurse

A full-time case manager

• A full-time behavioral health therapist

• A shared nurse practitioner, available through both on-site visits and TeleHealth services

How does it work?

The SBHC will function independently from the school, with services available to students only with parent or guardian permission. The center operates like a local doctor's office, billing health insurance, as usual. It can serve as a primary care provider or an urgent care alternative. For example, the center can perform flu and strep tests, call in prescriptions to local pharmacies, and address behavioral health needs.

Our school nurses will play a vital role in connecting students and families to the resources available through the SBHC. The goal is to provide quick, effective care to keep students healthy and ready to learn, minimizing time out of the classroom.

Next Steps

More details about the SBHC will be shared with families soon, including how to access services. We're proud to bring this innovative solution to our district to meet the health needs of our students and staff.

School-Based Health Centers are currently in operation at Ben Logan, Indian Lake, Riverside, and West Liberty through a partnership with Community Health and Wellness Partners.

Community Health & Wellness Partners offers a full range of medical care services at our four locations in Bellefontaine, Indian Lake, West Liberty, and Urbana. They serve all people, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Their mission is to provide quality, whole- person, patient-centered health care to anyone and everyone in our community. The school-based health centers are an extension of their other physical locations and are only open to students and staff in that district.

We are excited to bring this amazing opportunity to our families and staff!

We 💗 our GES Falcon Family, and many of the adults had a blast with some fun activities over the last couple of weeks!

School pictures of some of our GES rockstars were hung in the office, and we guessed who was who! It was awesome to see so many people surrounding the board and buzzing with laughter and guesses!

On Friday, February 14, we started the day decorating Valentine's cookies💗 The library was full of sweetness and relaxation!

Check out pictures of some of the fun!

Back by popular demand, please see the 2024-2025 Family Falcon Focus for important dates at GES. This document will be updated as the year progresses. Dates are subject to change if/when necessary.

Thank you!

February

17: PRESIDENTS DAY - NO SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE

19: PTO Meeting in first grade pod @ 3:45p.m.

21: Boonshoft Assembly for grades 3, 4 and 5

27: GES Student Council meeting @ 8:40a.m.

28: 2-hour early release - GLS staff PD day

March

3-21: Student Council Pennies for Patients (more information coming)

11: 4th and 5th grade GES Fine Arts Festival evening (more information coming)

13: GES Student Council meeting @ 8:40a.m.

13: St. Paris Library visiting Kindergarten for Story Time @ 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m.

14: Last day of Quarter 3

14: STAFF INSERVICE DAY - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

17: First day of Quarter 4

17: PTO Meeting in first grade pod @ 5:30p.m.

18: Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30p.m. to 7:00p.m.

20: Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30p.m. to 7:00p.m.

21: Spring Picture Day (Lange Photography)

21: Kona Ice

21: TLIM CLUB DAY @ 2:05p.m. to 3:05p.m.

24-28 SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE

April

3: GES Movie Night #2

8: 5th grade OST - English Language Arts - Day #1

9: 5th grade OST - English Language Arts - Day #2

14: First day of roller skating in PE (4/14 thru 5/9)

15: 3rd and 4th grade OST - English Language Arts - Day #1

15: 5th grade OST - science - Day #1

16: 3rd and 4th grade OST - English Language Arts - Day #2

16: PTO Meeting in first grade pod @ 3:45p.m.

17: 5th grade OST - science - Day #1

17: St. Paris Library visiting Kindergarten for Story Time @ 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m.

18: HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE

21: NO SCHOOL - CONFERENCE MAKE-UP DAY

22-25: 5th Grade Glen Helen Trip - All Classes

25: 2-hour early release PD day

25: Kona Ice

29: 3rd - 4th - 5th grade OST - math - Day #1

30: 3rd - 4th - 5th grade OST - math - Day #2

Please see the attached letter containing information about Ohio Department of Education and Workforce required student learning opportunities. Links for all materials and opt-out procedures are included.

Please reach out to Mrs. Shreve and/or Mr. Myers with any questions.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your children's learning!

As we continue to focus on student safety at Graham Elementary School, we have made some updates to our class treat protocol.

Please see the information below to learn of updates and additions to allowable treats and protocols. These changes are effective immediately.

Please contact Mrs. Shreve and Mr. Myers with any questions.

We appreciate our Falcon families!

At Graham Elementary, our students' safety is critical. One piece of ensuring student safety is the morning and afternoon drop-offs procedures.

Please be reminded that the west lane of the front parking lot is for handicap drop-off only. Often times, the gate is not in the lane to allow for handicap drop-off/pick-up. Even when the gate is not blocking the lane, we ask that that lane be used for handicap drop-off/pick-up only.

In addition, the east lane of the front parking lot is not to be used in the afternoon. Typically, it is blocked by a saw horse. In the event that it is not, please refrain from using this lane.

Lastly, if someone other than parents/guardian are dropping off/picking up your child, please advise them of these procedures.

Thank you for your cooperation🙂

As the Winter season comes in full-swing, so might come calamity days. Ohio districts are "allowed" five calamity days each year and, at Graham Elementary School, we have currently used 4 of our 5 days.

In the event that all five of our calamity days are used, Graham Local Schools will implement "online learning days" for days #6, #7 and #8.

As we draw nearer to the five-day mark, your child's teacher has reached out via DOJO with specific information and begun sharing any needed paper/pencil materials that will be needed for the day(s). For now, this is what you need to know about online days...

*Students will be expected to complete paper/pencil activities and assignment that are sent home. So, when your child's teacher sends home any materials, please store them in a safe place for future use.

*Teachers will be available for questions or needs on both ClassDOJO and by email from 8:15a.m. to 3:30p.m. Also, on an online day(s), each teacher will share a Google MEET link through ClassDOJO. From 2:15p.m. to 3:30p.m. on an online day(s), families and students can use this link to check-in on camera with their teacher(s).

*Attendance will be taken on each online day. A day's attendance will be earned when a student checks in during the Google MEET link for an online day AND/OR turns in the assigned work on the next in-person school day. We recognized that not all students will have access to a computer/internet in their homes. Therefore, logging on to Google MEET is not required. However, in order to earn a day's attendance, all students must turn in assigned work on the next in-person school day following the online day(s).

If you have questions, please reach out to Mrs. Shreve or Mr. Myers. Please check ClassDOJO and your child's take-home folder closely for online day information/assignments.

The temperatures are dropping quickly, and winter weather is here to stay for several months! Please see the handbook information on outdoor recess below and be sure children come to school dressed appropriately to be outside (weather-permitting).

RECESS

Children should dress appropriately as they will be going outside, weather permitting. A note must be sent every day that the child must stay inside. A doctor’s statement is needed if your child is to stay in on a regular basis or for an extended period of time. Children will have indoor recess when the temperature is below 25 degrees or when the wind chill is 25 degrees.

Children will be brought in immediately when responsible staff are aware of changing weather conditions. The official temperature and wind chill will be determined by The Weather Channel, http://www.weatherchannel.com. Graham Elementary trusts the judgment of parents in selecting weather appropriate attire.

InfOhio is a free resource to all Ohio residents, and we encourage families to check it out!

When your children see you excited about learning, they are excited to learn too!

Is your child an avid reader? If so, check out BookFlix (link embedded)! This site pairs fiction and non-fiction texts on many topics, and students will enjoy learning new things to share with you at the dinner table!

Do you have a curious/knowledge-seeking child? If so, take some time with your child and check out The World Almanac for Kids, IWonder or World Book Kids. Families can have a great time finding the answers to many of the things they wonder about!

Do any of you remember Highlights magazines? If so, you know how much fun you can have exploring this resource with your child!

Preschool families...check out the following websites (e-books and videos and Early Learning Portal) with your little learners. They are packed full of enjoyable and educational resources!

Enjoy!

**Previously posted on ClassDOJO (September 3, 2024)**

Hello Falcon Families! If you are interested in volunteering at Graham Elementary, please use this link - https://www.grahamlocalschools.org/page/volunteer-portal-and-information - to view updated information regarding the volunteer process at Graham Local Schools.

If you are considering volunteering and/or helping with classroom parties at Graham Elementary, you must complete an application and be approved through the Secure Volunteer site before you volunteer.

Please email Mrs. Shreve (shrevee@grahamlocalschools.org) with any questions.

Thank you for your partnership in your child's education!

This is a reminder that free and reduced lunch applications expire at the end of every school year. If your child qualified for free and/or reduced lunch last year and you have not completed a new application for this year, please do.

Paper applications can be found here:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/.../Graham

Free and Reduced Lunch forms can also be sent home with your child. If you would like a copy, please contact the GES office and we will send one home.

Online applications can be found on PaySchools Central here https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

If you are in need of before or after care for your children, please see this flyer to learn more about this opportunity.

**Reminder...A.M. preschool students enter the building at 8:30a.m. to begin their A.M. session**

As stated in the Graham Elementary Student Handbook,

"All school fees must be paid in order for students to attend field trips (Glen Helen included) or participate in preschool promotion and/or 5th grade promotion."

Fees can be paid by cash or check (Graham Elementary School) or online at https://www.payschoolscentral.com/. Please contact Mrs. Shreve with any questions.

At Graham Local Schools, we take a proactive approach to attendance. If/When GES students accumulate 50 hours of excessive absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #1. When students accumulate 65 excessive hours of absence, families will be provided with Absence Warning Letter #2.

An absence intervention meeting will be scheduled when students accumulates 72 excessive hours of absence

Please see the GES Handbook language below for the steps to report an absence...

A. When a student is ill or for some other reason is unable to attend, the parent/guardian is ex­pected to contact the school office by phone before 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. For your convenience, you may call the night before and leave a message on the answering machine (937-663-4449).

B. A written reason for all absences properly signed and dated by a parent/guardian is required. Written notes not filed in the office within one day after the student returns to school following an absence will result in an unexcused absence. Administration reserves the right to excuse student absences with reasonable cause.

C. For each unexcused absence, the student is responsible for obtaining work and following make-up work policies.

The end of day pick-up procedure will make our out front pick-up safer for our students at Graham Elementary . Thank you for your cooperation!

Permanent Pick-Up

• Students will be dismissed at 3:25pm each day.

• Each student/family who is a permanent pick-up will be given 2 numbered tags and their child will have a numbered tag with a corresponding number for their bookbag.

• Those students who are picked up by a babysitter with proper transportation forms on file will have a number for their babysitter.

• Each grade level will have a designated area marked outside and the family will come to that area to pick up their student(s) from each area - families should have their numbered tag with them.

• Families must park and come to the sidewalk to pick up their students. There will be no parking in the fire lanes of the building.

Students who are not permanent pick-ups who will be picked up on a day must call the elementary office or send in a note to pick-up their child. When picking your child up, please follow the procedure below:

• Families who are not permanent pick-ups must come to the front doors, provide ID and sign out their student from inside the building.

• Students will be dismissed to their family once the family has signed them out at the front office.

We do understand this process takes time and we thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through this process together. Our #1 priority is our students safety.

*In an effort to remediate behaviors through reflection versus consequence, Graham Elementary will institute Restorative Recesses when deemed appropriate. This opportunity is a consequence targeted at reflection instead of punishment. It provides students the chance to work alongside an adult to reflect on their behavior and make plans for corrective behaviors.

*Cell phones and Smart Watches are to remain off and in student bookbags upon entering the building and should not be used until after the final dismissal bell and students have exited the school building. In effect, cell phones should not be “seen, heard, or used” during this time. Also, cell phones should NOT be used to take any type of photograph, video, or recording at any time unless directed by a staff member.

Students cannot contact parents via a personal cell phone during the day; they are to utilize a classroom or office phone. If violations of this policy should occur, a CELL PHONE WILL BE TAKEN AND CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE END OF THE DAY.

1st offense – warning 2nd offense – parent called 3rd offense – detention/parent picks up phone.

*Clothing must cover the chest, stomach, back, buttocks, upper thighs, and undergarments when the student sits, stands, raises his/her hand, or bends over. Any article of clothing that reveals an excessive amount of skin will be deemed inappropriate for the school environment.

Therefore, the final decision regarding the professionalism of clothing and accessories will be made by the building administration.

Clothing or accessories bearing patches, drawings, and/or sayings (stated or implies), which refer to drugs, alcohol, sex, profanity and obscenity, shall not be permitted.

Shoes shall be worn for health and safety reasons. Footwear with only toe support (ex - thongs, flip flops, etc.) shall not be worn. High heels or platforms, roller shoes can present safety concerns and are not to be worn. Socks are recommended as a good hygiene practice.

Pupils are not to wear hats, overcoats, jackets, or other outer wear in the building unless the principal has granted permission. This dress code will be in effect for all school days and related activities except for those “special” days and/or activities as approved by the principal.

*ZERO QUARTERLY REFERRALS REWARD AND END-OF-THE-YEAR REWARD

Students with zero bus/office referrals will earn a reward for each quarter that they meet this qualification.

When Graham Elementary reaches 30 cumulative days of zero bus/office referrals, all students will participate in a day-long school-wide celebration.

Students who have three or less bus/office referrals and no suspensions (bus or school) will participate in an additional special activity during the school-wide celebration if/when Graham Elementary reaches 30 cumulative days of zero bus/office referrals.

Details of the reward will be shared during the school year.

Administrator holds the right to remove a student from the day-long celebration due to excessive referrals or extreme behaviors.

Emily Shreve - Principal - shrevee@grahamlocalschools.org

Aaron Myers - Assistant Principal - myersa@grahamlocalschools.org

Jon Comer - School Counselor - comerj@grahamlocalschools.org

Morgan Boggess - School Nurse - boggessm@grahamlocalschools.org

Kristina Thornton - Administrative Assistant - thorntonk@grahamlocalschools.org

Kayla Yoder - Administrative Assistant - yoderk@grahamlocalschools.org
Website: grahamlocalschools.org
Location: 9464 U.S. 36, Saint Paris, OH, USA
Phone: 937-663-4449
Facebook: facebook.com/FreddieFalcon
Twitter: @GESFALCONS